You most likely will want to stick with the BMW brand oil at this time. They put tracers in the oil and will be the first thing they check if you have any engine issues. If they don't find the tracers, they'll void your engine warranty.

This looks like it could be a real sticky issue. No pun intented. On page 221 of the manual it states "Only use approved BMW High Performance oil". Then it states you can use up to a quart of another oil. Then it recommends Castrol. Does that mean any Castrol oil or only BMW-Castrol oil? According to the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, BMW can only require you to use their oil if it is free under warranty. Since we get free oil changes I guess we are require to use only BMW oil. But does this mean that if we need a quart of oil, the parts department should be require to give it to us free?

While out walking the dogs and my after Christmas bloat I was pondering not only global warming, it was 85F yesterday, 81F today, and 85F tomorrow, but this oil question. I'm not a lawyer and I didn't stay at a Holiday Inn, but for what it's worth it, here's my take on it.

1. While under warranty you must only use approved BMW High Performance Oil since they do free oil changes to your car.
2. The "approved" refers to the viscosity.
3. If you must add oil and BMW oil is not available; the oil from the list that Lotus 7 listed above can be used.
4. Of that list, BMW recommends that you buy the Castrol brand.

My guess is that the only difference between the Castrol and the BMW label is a "high performance" tracer that the OP refers too.

If your engines has a problem related to "oil", good luck if you have changed your oil and didn't use BMW oils!

Absolutely. With my previous BMWs, I've gone into the dealer when any fluids were low and my dealer would refill them. No appointment needed, they just add the fluids at the drive-in area where cars are typically dropped off for service. So you can just pull-in, get topped off, and go.

Absolutely. With my previous BMWs, I've gone into the dealer when any fluids were low and my dealer would refill them. No appointment needed, they just add the fluids at the drive-in area where cars are typically dropped off for service. So you can just pull-in, get topped off, and go.

Thanks for this.. I had purchased service plus with mine and hadnt realised they would also take care of top ups! pays to read what you buy